‘Brilliant’ Kieron Morris earns plaudits after Tranmere winner against Salford

Posted Sunday, February 12, 2023 by PA

Delighted Tranmere boss Micky Mellon saluted match-winner Kieron Morris after his first-half effort sealed a 1-0 victory against Salford.

Morris has now scored two goals in his last three games and turned in another man-of-the-match performance following an injury-hit start to the campaign.

Mellon said: “Kieron has been outstanding lately – he sets himself such high standards.

“Anything less than 100 per cent isn’t good enough for him, and I’m delighted he’s got the winner today.

“He’s been great for us after getting over his injury, he’s a top player, he’s brilliant.

“He’s never really let us down at all – some of his performances have been out of this planet.

“He’s a player that is capable of really exciting you, and that’s something that will continue as we continue the season.”

Mellon went on to salute a sturdy defensive display, particularly in the second half.

“The back-to-back off-the-line clearances were sensational,” added the Tranmere boss.

“When we are at our best like we were today, we are tough to break down.

“We’ve been clean and tidy, and overall we’ve defended really well.

“We needed a response following the disappointment of Tuesday at Doncaster, and we got that. We were much better.

“We’ve got great running power all over the field, and we get quality in good areas.”

Rovers had been terrific value for their half-time lead.

They went in front when Morris raced in at the far post to convert Ethan Bristow’s low cross.

The Ammies kept battling in the second half and both Harvey Saunders and sub Matt Smith were particularly unlucky, but Rovers deservedly hung onto the three points which lifted them back into the top half of the table.

It was clearly a disappointing day for Salford boss Neil Wood as his side had been in good nick, having won their previous two games, and four in their previous six.

Wood said: “It wasn’t a game we were expecting to lose, so we’re obviously disappointed with that.

“It was a well-worked goal to be fair to them, but I just felt we weren’t quite matching them in the first half.

“I thought we were a yard or two short, but saying that I thought we did well in the second half, I thought we were the team on top for a large period of it.

“I thought we had momentum behind us and I think the chance that gets cleared off the line, if that goes in at that point of the game then we’re right back in it.

“I don’t quite know how he’s managed to clear that, he’s hit it off his own post and it’s ran free.

“With a bit of luck that goes in and I felt at that point if that goes in then I think the result would have been totally different.”